Bi-directional fuze assembly

ABSTRACT

The disclosure shows a fuze assembly capable of detonating a bomb whether mounted in a nose well or a tail well therein. A pair of inertia balls are mounted in side-by-side cylindrical raceways. Dependent upon the fuze assembly being mounted in a tail well or nose well, one or the other of the pairs of balls acts on a pivotal lever to drive a firing pin against a detonator charge to detonate the bomb.

in 11166 States atem 1151 3,664,264 Benner 51 23, 1972 [54]BI-DIRECTIONAL FUZE ASSEMBLY 3,511,184 5/1970 Bowers 102/73 [72]IIlVCl'ltOl'! David E. Benner, Webster, Ind. FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [731 Assign": Am Richmnd' 1,125,318 3/1962 Germany ..1o2/73[22] Filed: Nov. 6, 1969 Primary ExaminerSamuel W. Engle [21 1 Appl-874,584 AttorneyCharles M. Hogan and Eugene C. Goodale 52 US. Cl. ..10273, 102/76 R ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..F42c 1/04 The disclosure Shows afuze asscmb] y capable of detonatmg a [58] Field of Search 102/70, bombwhether mounted in a nose we" or a tail we therein. A l pair of inertiaballs are mounted in side-by-side cylindrical raceways. Dependent uponthe fuze assembly being mounted [56] References and in a tail well ornose well, one or the other of the pairs of balls UNITED STATES PATENTSacts on a pivotal lever to drive a firing pin against a detonator chargeto detonate the bomb. 2,741,674 4/1956 Richard 102/73 2,934,018 4/1960Seavey 102/73 A 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 36 2 EN 6/ 48 4O T/ Q 39 14o 1 7- b gzo I 4 I Z 1 1 J PATENTEUMAY 23 I972 v INVENTOR.

DAVID E. BENNER F/El BI-DIRECTIONAL FUZE ASSEMBLY The present inventionrelates to improvements in fuze assemblies for bombs and similarmunitions and more particularly to improved firing devices therefor.

One of the more important considerations in connection with munitions istheir logistic support. Bombs, and similar munitions, require variousfunctions of the fuze assemblies that are mounted therein to controldetonation. For example, if a fuze assembly has a multi-functioncapability, the increased costs of such a fuze may be more than offsetby the savings in provisioning a plurality of single purpose fuzeassemblies. Further savings are also potentially available in servicingand procurement.

For example of an impact fuze assembly is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,511,184 issued May 12, 1970, to R. E. Bowers, and of common assignmentwith the present Application. In addition to improved assurance ofdetonation at low angles of impact of the bomb with a target, that fuzeassembly has the capability of use with free fall bombs, as well asbombs having retarding fins which are deployed after release of the bombfrom an aircraft to give the aircraft time to reach a safe separationdistance from impact and the detonation of the bomb.

A general object of the invention is to extend the multifunctioncapabilities of fuze assemblies for bombs and similar munitions.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a fuze assemblyincorporating a firing device having the capability of detonating a bombupon impact in either direction relative to the axis of a firing pinemployed to initiate detonation.

To further explain the last stated object, some bombs have tail wells inwhich the fuze assembly is mounted, while other bombs, for technical ortactical reasons have a nose well in which the fuze assembly is mounted,and still others have both types of fuze wells. A conventional fuzeassembly is mounted with its firing pin facing towards the explosivecharge in the main part of the bomb. This means that the inertia forcesof impact, relative to the firing pin, are in opposite directions in thetwo types of bombs. It has, therefore, been an accepted practice tosupply, or provision, two types of fuze assemblies, as a minimum, forthese two types of bombs. Thus this object of the invention relates tothe provision of an improved fuze assembly which can function equallywell in both the nose and tail wells of bombs and thus eliminate theneed for two distinct types of fuze assemblies for these two types ofbombs.

A further and still more specific object of the invention is to achievethe above ends in extending the multi-function capabilities of the fuzeassembly of the above-referenced Application.

In its broader aspects, the invention takes the form of a fuze assemblyhaving means for initiating detonation of a bomb in response to axialmovement of a firing pin in a given direction. Inertia means responsiveto a deceleration force in either direction, relative to the axis of thefiring pin, are employed to generate the firing movement, in said givendirection, to the firing pin. This allows the fuze assembly to bemounted in a bomb having either a tail well or a nose well therein.

More specifically, the means for initiating detonation of the bombinclude a detonator charge against which the firing pin is driven. Theinertia means comprise inertia balls rollable in cylindrical raceways ofapproximately the same diameter as the balls. Further, two raceways aredisposed in side-by-side relation with a lever pivotally mountedtherebetween. The lever extends into both raceways and the firing pin isslidable in the lower end of one raceway. At least one of the inertiaballs is disposed in that raceway above the lever and at least one ofthe balls is disposed in the other raceway below the lever. The lever isspecifically formed to assure detonation at low angles of impact ineither direction.

In greater specifics, the detonator charge is carried in a detonatorholder which shifts the detonator charge into alignment with the firingpin when it is desired to detonate the bomb after deployment ofretarding fins.

The above and other related objects and features of the invention willbe apparent from a reading of the following description of thedisclosure found in the accompanying drawing and the novelty thereofpointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a fuze assembly embodyingthe present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of a firing seen in FIG. 1,illustrating one of its firing modes; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the alternate firingmode of the firing device.

Referencing FIG. 1, the present fuze assembly comprises a frame 10 whichis adapted to be mounted on structural elements of a bomb in either thetail well of the bomb or its nose well dependent upon the type of bomb.A timing device 12 controls the position of a latch arm 14. In the safeposition of the fuze assembly, the latch arm maintains a detonatorholder 16 in the position of FIG. 1 with a relief hold 18 aligned with afiring pin 20. In either type of bomb, the firing pin would be generallyaligned with the longitudinal axis of the bomb.

The firing pin 20 is a component of a firing device indicated generallyby reference character 22. The firing device 22 further comprises ahousing 24 which is mounted, as by brazing, on the frame 10. The firingpin 20 has a piston 26 connected to its upper end and is slidable in thelower end of a cylindrical chamber or raceway 28. A lever 30 overliesthe piston 26 and two inertia balls 32 are disposed in the raceway 28above the lever 30. (For convenience of description and reference, suchterms as upper" and lower are related to orientation of a fuze assemblyas illustrated in the drawing even though. the relative positions andterms would be reversed for a nose well mounted fuze assembly, ascompared to a tail well mounted fuze assembly.) A second parallelchamber or raceway 34 is formed in the housing 24 in side-bysiderelation with the raceway 28. The lever 30 is mounted, by pivots 36, onthe housing 24 and extends into the raceway 34. The housing 24 has aslot 38 between the two raceways 28 and 34 to permit pivotal movement ofthe lever 30. A spring 39, disposed in the lower end of the raceway 28,acts against the piston 26 to urge the component parts to the positionsseen in FIG. 1. The upper ends of the raceways 28 and 34 are closed byretaining screw caps 41.

After release of the bomb from an aircraft the timing device 12 rotatesthe latch arm 14 to release the detonator holder so that it may rotateabout axis 42 and in so doing align a detonator charge 44 with thefiring pin 20. The fuze assembly is now in its armed condition,illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

device FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate, by arrows A, the orientation of thefuze assembly relative to the direction of bomb travel towards impactwith a target, where the fuze assembly is mounted in a tail well. Whenthe bomb impacts on the target, even at a relatively low angle, theinertia balls 32 will continue towards the bottom of the raceway 28causing thefiring pin 20 to be driven against the detonator charge 44.This striking of the detonator charge ignites it and results indetonation of the bomb. It will be noted that the lever 30 is interposedbetween the lower ball 32 and the piston 26 as the firing pin 20 isdriven into the detonator charge 44 and that the lower surface of thelever is curved to centralize the force loading on the piston and firingpin so that any tendency to bind these elements is minimized. Thisfurther ensures proper firing action.

FIG. 3 illustrates, by arrow B, the orientation of the fuze assemblyrelative to the direction of bomb travel towards impact with a target,where the fuze assembly is mounted in a nose well. When the bomb impactson the target, the balls 40 will continue towards the upper end of theraceway 34 causing the lever 30 to pivot in a clockwise direction. Thelever 30, acting against the piston 26, drives the firing pin 20 againstthe detonator charge 44 to detonate this type of bomb equally aseffectively as the earlier described detonation of a tail well type ofbomb.

In addition to the previously referenced curved portion of the lever 30for engaging the piston 26, the lever 30 is relieved at 46 and 48 tofurther assure proper firing action at low angles of impact for a givensize of the inertia balls 32 and 40. The relieved portions 46 and 48,respectively, provide clearance for the balls 32 and 40 so that amaximum effective torque force can be transmitted, by point contact, tothe lever 30.

As has been previously indicated, the present fuze assembly is alsoadapted for use with bombs having retarding fins which are deployedafter release of the bomb from an aircraft to delay detonation of thebomb until the aircraft reaches a safe distance from the resultingexplosion. When these fins are deployed, the fuze assembly is in thesafe position illustrated in FlG. l. The retardation force, resultingfrom opening of the fins, is sufficient for the inertia force of eitherthe balls 32 or the balls 40 (dependent upon whether a nose well fuze ora tail well fuze is employed in the bomb) to overcome the spring 39 anddrive the firing pin 20 downwardly. In such event the firing pin 20simply enters the relief hole 18. After the retardation force abates,the spring 39 returns the firing pin and the balls 32, 40 to theiroriginal positions and the detonator holder 16 is swung to the armedposition of the fuze assembly.

Various modifications of the preferred embodiment, described herein,will occur to those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention. For example, in the broader aspects of theinvention it is not necessary that the inertia means take the form ofballs or that two balls be employed in each raceway.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as novel anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A fuze assembly for bombs and similar munitions, said fuze assemblycomprising:

a housing having an axial bore through one end thereof, said bore beingin communication with a safing cavity in the safed position and incommunication with a detonatorholding cavity during the armed condition;

a firing member including a piston portion and a firing pin extendingtherefrom, said firing pin being mounted in said housing bore forslidable movement therethrough;

a spring mounted between said piston portion and the one end of saidhousing for normally biasing said firing member inwardly of said housingwherein the firing pin does not project outwardly from said housing inthe absence of deceleration forces;

two raceways in side-by-side spaced relation formed in said housingparallel to the axis of the firing pin, said piston portion beingslidable in one end of one raceway;

inertia balls mounted for axial movement in each of said raceways andresponsive to deceleration force in either direction relative to theaxis of said firing pin; and

a lever pivotally mounted between said raceways and extending into bothraceways beyond the longitudinal axes thereof, one end of said leveroverlying and engageable with said firing member piston portion, theball in said one raceway being disposed above said lever, the ball insaid other raceway being disposed below said lever, wherein said leveris responsive to said inertia balls for imparting axial movement in agiven direction to said piston portion wherein said firing pin is driveninto the detonator-holding cavity during the armed condition in responseto deceleration forces acting on said inertia balls in either direction.

2. A fuze assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the surface of thelever, engaging said piston, is curved to maintain the force on thepiston essentially aligned with the firing pin when the lever is pivotedin driving the firing pin against the detonator charge, and the portionsof the lever, engaged by said balls, are relieved to maintain a maximumtorque force on said lever when it is pivoted by a ball disposed ineither raceway.

3. A fuse assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the raceways arecylindrical, and

there are two balls in said one raceway above said lever and two ballsin the other raceway beneath said lever said balls having a diameterapproximating that of the raceways, and

further comprising a detonator holder in which the detonator charge iscarried,

and

means for maintaining said holder in a position in which the detonatorcharge is in a safe position out of alignment with the firing pin sothat said axial movement may be safely imparted to said firing pin, andfor then shifting the holder to a position aligning the detonator chargewith the firing pin when it is desired to drive the firing pin againstthe detonator charge.

1. A fuze assembly for bombs and similar munitions, said fuze assemblycomprising: a housing having an axial bore through one end thereof, saidbore being in communication with a safing cavity in the safed positionand in communication with a detonator-holding cavity during the armedcondition; a firing member including a piston portion and a firing pinextending therefrom, said firing pin being mounted in said housing borefor slidable movement therethrough; a spring mounted between said pistonportion and the one end of said housing for normally biasing said firingmember inwardly of said housing wherein the firing pin does not projectoutwardly from said housing in the absence of deceleration forces; tworaceways in side-by-side spaced relation formed in said housing parallelto the axis of the firing pin, said Piston portion being slidable in oneend of one raceway; inertia balls mounted for axial movement in each ofsaid raceways and responsive to deceleration force in either directionrelative to the axis of said firing pin; and a lever pivotally mountedbetween said raceways and extending into both raceways beyond thelongitudinal axes thereof, one end of said lever overlying andengageable with said firing member piston portion, the ball in said oneraceway being disposed above said lever, the ball in said other racewaybeing disposed below said lever, wherein said lever is responsive tosaid inertia balls for imparting axial movement in a given direction tosaid piston portion wherein said firing pin is driven into thedetonator-holding cavity during the armed condition in response todeceleration forces acting on said inertia balls in either direction. 2.A fuze assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the surface of thelever, engaging said piston, is curved to maintain the force on thepiston essentially aligned with the firing pin when the lever is pivotedin driving the firing pin against the detonator charge, and the portionsof the lever, engaged by said balls, are relieved to maintain a maximumtorque force on said lever when it is pivoted by a ball disposed ineither raceway.
 3. A fuse assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein theraceways are cylindrical, and there are two balls in said one racewayabove said lever and two balls in the other raceway beneath said lever,said balls having a diameter approximating that of the raceways, andfurther comprising a detonator holder in which the detonator charge iscarried, and means for maintaining said holder in a position in whichthe detonator charge is in a safe position out of alignment with thefiring pin so that said axial movement may be safely imparted to saidfiring pin, and for then shifting the holder to a position aligning thedetonator charge with the firing pin when it is desired to drive thefiring pin against the detonator charge.